Tool for removing address-o-graph type strips



Dec; 22, 1953 G. w. SCHAEFER 2,663,250

TOOL FOR REMOVING ADDRESS-O-GRAPH TYPE STRIPS Filed June 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l fewni/ fa w i/Jikaajr JR' M 4 ig/5 Dec. 22, 1953 G, w. SCHAEFER 2,563,250

TOOL FOR REMOVING ADDRESS-O-GRAPH TYPE STRIPS Filed June 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jazz)??? W M W 4 Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL FOR REMOVING ADDRESS-O-GRAP TYPE STRIPS George W. Schaefer, Quincy, Mass.

Application June 4, 1952, Serial No. 291,761

3 Claims.

The type for Address-o-graph plates is formed on one or more thin metal strips carried by a backing plate, the backing plate being provided with guide elements engaging about the side edges of the printing strips and one or more spring latches securing the strips against endwise removal. As the printing material becomes obsolete, these metal type strips may be removed and replaced by new ones, the backing plates being still usable. The backing plates also commonly carry paper strips showing in usual printed form the subject matter contained on the type strip, which is in reverse. Since during use the plates, and more particularly the parts carrying the type strips, are coated with ink, the removal of the strips by hand is a disagreeable and dirty job.

The present invention, therefore, relates to a tool by which the removal of the type and paper strips is facilitated and by which much of the soiling of the hands heretofore associated therewith may be avoided.

The tool of the present invention,'therefore, provides means actuable to release the type strip securing latch at one end and to engage the opposite end to exert removing pressure thereon while the latch is held released.

For a complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same. Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of an Address-ograph plate showing a printing strip held thereto.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4 and showing the tool of Figures 1 and 2 initially presented thereto.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the tool engaging the type strip which has been partially removed from the plate.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a plate with a pair of type strips carried thereby.

Figure 8 is an inverted plan view of a tool formed to remove simultaneously both type strips from a plate of the construction of Figure 7.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail sectional views on lines 8-43 and it-lt, respectively, of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a tool modified to remove type strips from the plate shown in Figure 13.

Figure 12 is a detail sectional View on line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a plate having three type strips and showing the paper identifying strip also in position.

Figures 14 and 15 are views similar to Figure 6, but showing the tool removing the long and short type strips, respectively, from the plate of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view on line 16-46 of Figure 13 and showing a tool part engaging beneath the paper strip preparatory to its removal from the plate.

Referring first to Figure l, there is shown an Address-o-graph plate 1 having struck upwardly therefrom fingers 2 which are bent to embrace one edge portion of a printing or type plate 3. The opposite edge portion of this type plate is guided by a single marginal finger 4 integral with the plate I. The backing plate is also provided with one or more spring latches 5. These latches are formed between slots 5 through the backing plate which form tongues, the outer ends i of which are turned upwardly and outwardly so as to normally engage beyond and adjacent to one of the ends of the type strip 3. As shown in. Figure 4 such a spring latch is positioned at each end of the type strip and these latches normally hold the type strip in position.

There may also be other fingers 3 struck up wardly from the backing plate I which cooperate with a single marginal finger 9 to hold a paper strip upon which is printed the information which is contained on the type strip, but since the type strip is used for printing the characters and the letters are therefore reversely positioned, the paper strip gives the same information in a more legible form. Such a paper strip is shown in Figure 13 at ill.

The tool of the present invention comprises a body portion 15 having a pair of spaced feet it and H. The foot is has secured to its under face a channel-shaped element is having a channel portion 19 and an inwardly extending heel portion 21!. This channel-shaped member maybe engaged over the edge of the backing plate I as shown in Figure 5 while the tool is upwardly inclined as there shown, and in this position the heel 2! extends over the upturned end i of one of the latches 5. The other foot ll has secured thereto a pusher element 2|, which as shown, may have a longitudinal groove 22 in its forward edge which may be engaged with the opposite end of the type strip in the position shown in Figure 6.

When the tool is rocked down from the position 'of Figure 5 to such engaging position of Figure 6,

latch beneath the end of the printing strip 3 so that by moving the tool lengthwise of the printing strip toward the depressed latch ii, the entire printing strip is moved bodily over the depressed latch and may be removed entirely from the backing plate, it being shown partly removed in Figure 6.

The tool is may be provided. with a recessed side face as at 25 to facilitate engagement by the fingers of the user exerting the endwise pressure thereon which is necessary to remove the printing strip.

The pusher element 2 i, as shown best in Figure 3, may be provided with a central notch 21 which will permit this element to pass over the latch l at the adjacent end of the printing strip as the printing strip is being removed.

In Figures 7 and 8 a modified construction of backing plate is shown in which a pair of parallel printing strips ta are employed each having its own spring latch at opposite ends with suitable guide fingers 2c and la for the side edges of the printing strips and guide fingers 8 and S to receive the paper strip.

With this arrangement the latch-depressing and strip-pushing elements are somewhat diiferently formed as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. The latch depressing element comprises the channel-shaped member lea provided with a central slot 28 positioned to clear the fingers 211 between adjacent edges of the printing strips. It has a heel portion Etc of suiilcient length to engage both of the spring latches at one end of the two strips. The pusher element Zia is pro vided with three transverse notches 38 in order to clear the latches 5 which are not engaged and depressed by the element Mia and also to clear the central guide fingers 2a.

In Figure 13 there is shown a still different form of back plate having three printing type strips 35 and so, the type strips 35 being shorter than the type strips 3 and 3a previously shown, and the type strip 36 being of somewhat more than double the widths of the strips 3-5 and positioned beyond the inner ends of each of the strips 35. This backing plate ib is provided with a spring latch 5 opposite the outer end of each of the type strips 35 and a fixed stop lug 37 at the inner end of each of these type strips, and which also cooperates with the inner end of the strip 36. The strip 36 has a single spring latch 5 outwardly of its outer edge. All these strips are held between fingers 2 and 4 pressed up from the backing plate.

It will be noted that the tool it has been shown in all the figures as having a foot to intermediate to the feet it and ll, and for operation on the plate of Figure 13 this foot is is used, together with the feet is and ii. Each of the feet It and El has a channel-shaped latch-depressing element Nib and the intermediate foot 40 is provided with a pusher element The channel elements i822 are each provided with the heel portion 2%, this channel portion 813 on the foot Iii and the pusher element cs cooperating to remove the printing strips and the channel member i822 on the foot ill and the pusher element 45 coopcrating to remove the printing strip 36, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, respectively. The method of operation is similar to that previously described, the hew 20b acting to depress the spring latch at the outer end of the printing strip when the presser member G5 is pushed downwardly bebind the inner end of the printing strip, whereupon by moving the tool in the proper direction the printing strip may be pushed over the de pressed latch and removed. These elements may be notched as required to clear the fingers 2 and the stops 31, and the pusher element it may be similarly notched on its lower face as shown in Figure 12.

The tool may also have a rod lie extending upwardly therefrom and provided with a tapered outer end it, which may be inserted beneath one end of the paper strip is and lift it wh re it may be grasped by the fingers for easy removal as shown in Figure 16. The paper strip may normally rest between stop lugs iii! pressed upwardly from the backing plate, there being however suifioient room at one side thereof for the insertion of the end of the rod d8.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. A tool for removing a type strip from a backing plate, said backing plate hav g a depressible spring latch normally projecting above and at one end. of said strip and preventing removal thereof, said tool having a pair of spaced feet, one of said feet having a channel element adapted to engage about the edge of said backing plate and having a heel portion adapted to engage the top of said spring latch, the other foot having a pusher element spaced from said channel element to engage the opposite end or" said type strip, said channel element heel portion being inclined downwardly and inwardly when said pusher element is positioned to engage opposits end and depressing said spring latch below said strip, whereby on moving tool lengthwise of said printing strip toward said latch said printing strip may he slid over said latch and be detached from backing plate.

2. A. tool for simultaneous'i removing a pair of parallel type strips from a backing p' said backing plate having a depressible s log latch normally projecting above and at one end of each of said strips and having guide fingers extending up and embracing the side edges or salt strips, said tool having a pair oi spaced feet, one or" said feet having a channel element adapted to engage about the edge of said bee in" plate be tween said guide fingers and having a heel portion adapted to engage the tops of said spring latches, the other foot having pusher element spaced from said channel element to engage the opposite ends of said type strips between said guide fingers, said channel element heel portion being inclined downwardly and inwardly when said pusher element is positioned to engage opposite ends depressing said latches below said strips, whereby on moving said tool lengthwise of said printing strips toward said latch said printing strips may he slid over said latches and be detached from said backing plate.

3. A tool for simultaneously removing a pair or parallel type strips from a backing plate, said backing plate having a depressiblc spring latch normally projecting above and at one end of each of said strips and having guide fingers extending up and embracing the side edges or? said strips, said tool having a pair of spaced feet, one of said feet having a channel element adapted to engage about the edge of said backing plate and having a heel portion adapted to engage the tops of said spring latches, the other foot having a pusher element spaced from said channel eleposite ends and depressing said spring latches 5 below said strips, whereby on moving said tool lengthwise of said printing strips toward said latch said printing strips may be slid over said latches and be detached from said backing plate,

at least one of said elements being notched on its lower face to clear said guide fingers as said tool is moved to remove said strips.

GEORGE W. SCHAEFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Deming Oct. 11, 1927 Lafierty Feb. 25, 1930 Hult et a1 Feb. 14, 1933 Towne Oct. 1, 1935 Gollwitzer Aug. 11, 1936 Hyde Oct. 17, 1950 

